Bangkok

Bangkok became the capital of Thailand in 1782 when the Royal Court relocated from the city of Ayuthaya Which had been left in ruins following years of conflict with the Burmese. After setting temporarily on the western banks of the Chao Phaya River in Thonburi, the capital was moved again to the area of Rattanakosin in present day Bangkok by King Rama I. Almost entirely surrounded by water, this new location was easier to defend against potential attacks. The King named the new capital Krung Thep (City of Angels) in reference to the past glories of Ayuthaya, and he ordered the construction of two of the Kingdom's most illustrious religious monuments, Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace in order to consolidate the new capital's ruling status.

During the subsequent reigns of King Mongkut (Rama IV) and his son King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) the city developed rapidly, culminating in the modernization and explosive growth of the 20th century. After a visit to the European capitals. Rama V moved the Royal Family to the leafy enclave of Dusit. The modern architectural monuments built in this neighbourhood include the Thai Parliament Building, the impressive marble Wat Benchama Bophit and the teak Vimanmek Palace.

Greater Bangkok now occupies nearly 350 square kilometres and is home to some 12 million residents Rattanakosin remains the spiritual centre of the city graced by the dazzling splendour of the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew and nearby Wat Pho. Modern downtown Bangkok stretch southeast of Rattanakosin and looks very much like other Southeast Asian capitals with gleaming skyscrapers, deluxe apartment projects and lots of snarled traffic. The core of the new city encompasses the Sathorn/Silom districts and Sukhumvit Road connected by the BTS skytrain and the new MRT subway network, which give the city a busy 21st-century feel.

Getting Around Bangkok
Bangkok highlight
Bangkok (City of Angels)

Urban Geography

Surface  :                                                     Population :                                                                                       Population Density :
Thailand : 513,000 sqkms                      Thailand : 65.4 millions                                                                         Thailand : 124 inhabitants per sqkm
Bangkok : 1,565 sqkms                            Bangkok city : 6.3 million / Greater Bangkok : 9.3 million                       Bangkok : 4.05 inhabitants per sqkm
                                                                                                                                                                                   Urban population : 32 % 

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